Why is my car pulling to one side

In our experience, resolving issues associated with pulling to one side is usually very simple and, when caught early, very reasonably priced. Waiting until a mechanical component fails due to the pressures put upon it is a bad idea, can endanger you and other road users and be a much more costly fix. 

Common reasons for a vehicle to pull to one side are: 

1. Uneven tyre pressure:

 If one tyre has less air in it than the rest, the car may veer to that side. Often, simply re-inflating that tyre to the correct pressure will resolve the issue. You can either do this yourself, using a foot pump or an air compressor at your nearest filling station or book into your local Protyre garage for a free tyre check.  

The correct air pressure for your vehicle's tyres will be recorded in its handbook, inside the driver's door jamb, or on the inside of the fuel filler cap to aid you in maintaining the correct air pressure for your tyres.  

If you choose to bring your car to Protyre, our tyre professionals will perform a full safety check of your tyres, inflate them to the correct air pressure and check that the tread is within legal limits. They will give you peace of mind and provide helpful advice for you to maintain the correct tyre pressure in the future.

Wheel alignment is incorrect:

If your wheels do not point in the right direction, this is known as incorrect wheel alignment which may indicate maladjusted tracking. It is very easy for wheels to become misaligned by hitting a speed bump, pothole or the pavement, and while you may try to avoid these obstacles, sometimes they are unavoidable. 

It is important that wheel alignment is correct as it ensures your car handles correctly, reduces wear and tear on your tyres and improves your fuel economy. Unfortunately, there is no DIY fix for wheel alignment issues, so if you are concerned that your wheel alignment may be incorrect, you should contact your local Protyre garage. 

Our qualified fitters will perform a free wheel alignment check, and if the wheels are found to be misaligned, they can quickly and easily resolve this common issue for you. 

Brake calliper is sticking:

A brake calliper is a mechanical component within your vehicle's braking system that applies pressure by applying the pads to the brake discs when you push on the brake pedal. If a brake calliper is sticking, you may notice a grinding noise as well as the car pulling to one side when you brake.  

Protyre offers free brake checks which can be booked online at a time and location to suit you. At these appointments, our qualified fitters will inspect your entire braking system to eliminate potential causes of your veering issues, and where they identify a fault, they will provide a no-obligation quote to perform the necessary repair. 

A faulty braking system is a significant safety issue, so it is highly recommended that where a fault is identified, the recommended work is performed to restore the full, safe function of the vehicle. 

Worn suspension parts:

Many of the suspension parts in a vehicle are consumable items which will need replacing periodically throughout a vehicle's life. When a lower control arm bushing is worn, this can allow the lower control arm to move when the brakes are applied, which can change the wheel's position and cause the vehicle to temporarily pull to one side. 

This fault is not usually accompanied by the grinding sound that is typically associated with a sticking brake calliper and may also occur when cornering. Your local Protyre garage offers free suspension checks, during which our qualified vehicle technicians will inspect your suspension system and determine whether any faults within the system are causing your vehicle to pull to one side. 

As above, if a fault is identified, they will provide you with a no-obligation quote for carrying out the work that is necessary to resolve the issue. 

Worn tyres:

If one tyre is wearing quicker than the others, or is wearing unevenly, it may be possible to resolve the issue by rotating the tyres around the vehicle to help to even the wear patterns. If, however, the tyre tread depth is below legal limits, it will be necessary to replace the tyre. 

Our tyre professionals will generally recommend replacing both tyres on an axle at the same time to prevent imbalance issues from arising. These can be caused by tyres having differing levels of tread, different tread patterns or different rolling characteristics. 

If a replacement tyre is recommended, your Protyre technician will help you to select the most appropriate tyre for your vehicle, based on the type, size and style of the vehicle, your annual mileage, the type of driving that you do most and your budget. Protyre stocks the country's largest selection of tyres, including models from leading manufacturers such as Pirelli and Continental, so will be able to either match your existing tyres or recommend the most suitable alternative. 

It is essential that you seek expert advice if your car is pulling to one side. Let your mechanic know under what circumstances the fault occurs and whether the vehicle always pulls to the same side. Tell them if the pulling is accompanied by any unusual sounds or odours as this will aid their diagnostics.  

For tailored help and advice, or to book your vehicle in for a free check at your local Protyre garage, please call us today, or use the booking link on our website to select a time and location that is convenient for you. 

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